asked the Minister for Health what measures can be taken to prevent exposure to tuberculosis by sub-tenants in houses occupied by cases of active tuberculosis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exposure to Tuberculosis.
52.
Mr. O'Malley
The responsibility for treating cases of infectious disease, including tuberculosis, and of eradicating sources of infection rests with the chief medical officer of health authorities in whom are vested wide powers under the Health Acts, 1947 to 1964, and the Infectious Diseases Regulations made thereunder.
A chief medical officer may, for example, provide
(1) for the detention and isolation in a specified hospital or other place of a person whose isolation is necessary as a safeguard against the spread of infection and who cannot be effectively isolated in his own home;
(2) that a person remain away from a specified place or places (which may include his home);
(3) for the compulsory cleansing and disinfection of persons, buildings and articles.
Provision is also included in the Health Acts which, under penalty requires
(1) notice to be given to the district medical officer for purposes of disinfection before a dwelling or part of a dwelling in which a person suffering from an infectious disease has resided during the previous three months, is sold or let;
(2) disclosure (on request) to a person interested in the sale or letting of a dwelling or part of a dwelling whether a person has resided in the premises during the previous three months whilst suffering from an infectious disease.
The Health Acts in addition impose certain obligations on members of the public, who may be probable sources of infection, to take precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
Is the Minister aware that sanatoria discharge patients who still have active tuberculosis, and because of the overcrowding in Dublin houses, we have sub-tenants who are living in these houses, exposed, with their children, to these cases of active tuberculosis? Could the Minister recommend to the medical officer of health for Dublin city that priority be given to these sub-tenants who are constantly exposed to this active tuberculosis?
Mr. O'Malley
It is really a matter for the Minister for Local Government. Under the housing and letting regulations, tubercular patients have got priority up to now and the Minister for Local Government is taking the most constructive attitude by providing dwellings for the people who are infective.
Would the Minister not agree that it is the policy of the Department of Health to make every possible provision to prevent tuberculosis spreading and with conditions as they are in Dublin this effort is being nullified?
Mr. O'Malley
Of course the Deputy should know that people suffering from tuberculosis need not necessarily be infective themselves.
It is very difficult to understand why the Minister should place responsibility on the Minister for Local Government because in Question No. 16 on today's Order Paper Deputy Dr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Local Government to tell him how many sub-tenants in Dublin Corporation houses are suffering from active tuberculosis and the Minister replied that he was not in a position to tell him.
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy is confusing the issue. I said that, in my view, the best remedy was being put into effect by the Minister for Local Government by providing dwellings as far as possible for everyone in need. The Minister for Local Government was asked an entirely different question. The question addressed to him was in regard to the number of sub-tenants.
Would the Minister consider recommending to the city medical officer that active cases of tuberculosis, where sub-tenants are exposed, should be given priority with regard to housing?